Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1887-02-03
49th Congress---Second Session.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 1887.
SzNATE-The bill passed by the House ap
propriating $40, 900 for special distribution
Of seed to the drought-stricken counties o
Texas was called up and advocated b.
Senator Coke. Several Republican senator
raised constitutional questions. During thu
debate Mr.. Hawley said that for the credit o.
Texas he would vote against the BILL "Fol
this eat State, this mighty empire, to pass
around the hat was disgraceful. If my little
State of Connecticut came here begging fol
! $4,000 for garden seed and got it, would
resign" The bill was finally passed by vote
| of "a to 49,
| Mr.. Miller, from the commerce committee,
reported bill for the construction of q
bridge across the East river at New York.
Shortly after O'Clock consideration of the
| sundry civil appropriation bill was resumed.
On motion of Mr.. Hoar an amendment was
made providing that the Secretary of State,
| the librarian of Congress and the secretary of
the Smithsonian institution shall act as q
| commission on historical manuscripts of the
government
Mr.. Allison, chairman of the committee on
appropriations, said that the Senator from
Connecticut (Mr. Platt) had inquired of him
yesterday whether or not there would be q
surplus in the treasury in case Congress
made appropriations this session in accord
ance with the estimates of the departments.
In his Mr. All1son's) desire to complete the
inquiry as fully as he might have done. The
regular estimates of the departments az sub
mitted by the Secretary of the Treasury
amounted Gin round numbers) to 1916, 000,-
600. Since that time there had been supple
mentary and other estimates amounting to
considerable sum. For example, there was
an estimate of nearly So, 900, 900 to carry out
the provisions of the Mexican pension bill.
No estimate had been as yet submitted as
to the disabilities pension bill which both
houses had passed, but which had not yet
received the signature of the President. It
was safe to assume however, that seven or
eight million dollars would be required for
that purpose. Then there has been already
submitted estimates for deficiency amount
ing to 100000 more. So that
the total of the estimates for the
year without including miscellaneous
He thought it safe to assume, however, that
Congress would not appropriate fully up to
the estimate. In further reply to Mr.. Platt
Mr.. Allison said that the estimates were in
excess of the estimates heretofore made by
the department in similar cases and were
perhaps in excess of the immediate necessi-
ties OF the government.
Mr.. Platt-Do these estimates of $685.
900, 900 include any considerable amount for
coast defensesl
Mr.. Allison-They include $1,000, 900 for
Notifications. The total navy estimate is
$40, 900, 900. So that I assume that these es-
Inmates do not include what we would re-
gard as a sufficient expenditure for coast de-
lenses or for the navy should we enter on
that subject.
Mr.. Platt-Five millions for Notifications
are practically nothing.
Mr.. Wilson, of Iowa-Does this 1895, 000,-
900 include the amount to be laid aside for
the sinking fund?
Mr. Allison-That is included.
Mr.. Platt-So that if Congress should deem
it necessary to expend larger sum than five
millions for coast defense that larger sum
would increase the estimates beyond $685.
O0O, 900.
Mr.. Allison-Yes, and if we should appro-
pirate more than twenty millions for the
navy that over appropriation must be added.
The bill as passed by the House does appro-
pirate twenty two millions. Now as to the
receipts for the next year. The receipts for
600, 900 as stated by the Secretary of the
Treasury in his report and by the President |
in his message. But that does not include |
the receipts from postal revenue and those |
receipts must be added to the 1885,, 200, 900. |
For the year 1886 the postal revenue was |
s44, 900 900. so that the receipts for the year
amounted to $3.50, 900. This year |
the Postmaster General estimates that |
the total revenues will be $780, |
900, 900. I think in view of |
The actual receipts of last year |
that that is high estimate. do not believe |
they will reach 100000. But assuming |
that they will, and assuming that the ordi- |
nary revenues of the government are what |
shey were last year, 1886, DOC, 900, then we |
have in round numbers $3.50, ZOO, 900 as the |
gross receipts for the fiscal year 1878. |
These receipts will not be added to except |
from duties on imports. I mean that what |
,veI increase of receipts there may be will |
va tn frOrr off iT.tQ he
customs receipts for the year 1886 were |
S192, 900, 900. For the first six months of |
his fiscal year they amount to $107, 000, 900, |
80 that there has been an increase of between
BIO, 600, 900 and $11 ZOO, 900 in the first six |
months of this year as compared with the |
same period last year. Assuming that that /
increase continues throughout the fiscal year
,he amount from customs duties for the cur
rent year will be $214, ZOO, 0OO The total
receipts of revenue for the first half of this
fiscal year amount to $3.50, 000, 900, SO that if |
that rate continues we will have total reve-
compared with 1886, 900, 900 for the last fiscal /
year. In these estimates for the current year |
do not include the postal receipts, nor are
hey included in the 1886, 900, 900 for last |
year, SO that we will have $3.50, 600, 900 of |
receipts and an expenditure of 1895, 100000.
Mr.. Morrill-Do You not think that we
ought to make some difference between the /
first half of the fiscal year and the lasta I
think the receipts are usually much larger in
The first half than in the second half
Mr.. Allison-It happens 80 sometimes and
sometimes the reverse happens. take the
receipts therefore as $780, 900, 900 for next
year. Add the estimated postal revenue and
The receipts will be s410, 100000. Then if we
lake the estimates of expenditures as
by the Senator from Connecticut
Platt) as the measure of our expenditures
for 1878, to which should be added the
amount of pension legislation, we have a
.otsl expenditure of $685., 1000, 900, which will |
make the surplus (being the question asked
bY the Senator from Connecticut) SIS 000,
300. If we comply with the law in relation
10 the sinking fund then we are compelled to
buy bonds in the open market, either ~ or
per cent. bonds or the currency 6's issued
10 the Pacific railroads.
Mr.. Teller-Why does the Senator say if
we comply with the sinking fund law! Is not
hat law imperativea Can there be any ques-
ton but that the government will provide
to law for the sinking fund?
Mr.. Allison-There is a question whether
The government is bound to purchase its own
bonds in the open market at large premium
for the purpose of complying with the sink
ing fund requirement while i'll fact the sink
ng fund is now over $500, 900, 900 in excess
IF the requirements.
Mr.. Teller-The sinking fund act provides
not for total amount, but for 80 much each
year.
Mr.. Allison-In my Judgment the govern
nent is not bound by law or in good faith to
,he bondholders to purchase at premium
bonds that are not yet DUE What the sink
ng fund projected for the benefit of the
is more than three hundred
millions in advance of the general require
nents of the sinking fund law. While
admit that the letter of the law requires the
setting apart of one per cent. of the total
lebt each year, still that is a requirement
which can be set aside by law in good faith.
It is questionable whether or not the pro-
noters of that law intended that the govern
nent should 60 into the open market and
pay a premium of % per cent. for its bonds
n order to comply with that provision.
Mr.. Inga1ls-How does it happen (the law